Safeguarding the Institution

In September 2025, Stephen published Safeguarding the Institution: How the Culture of the Church of England Facilitates Abuse. Written in the light of his own experiences and other recent safeguarding scandals, the book delivers a searing critique of the culture of the Church of England that has led to these events. It exposes a system plagued by pragmatic evasiveness, passive aggression, an ethos of wilful incompetence, fear-based decision-making and a deep-rooted dishonesty surrounding sexuality and clergy accountability.

But this is not a book without hope. Rooted in a proper confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ, it envisions a church shaped instead by truth-telling, courage, and integrity. From parish life to national leadership, the book offers a bold and practical manifesto for cultural transformation across the whole of the Church of England.

You can order a copy here.